document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=223968>Question 223968</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> My son's homework question is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Find the value(s) of a for which the equation is an identity.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a(2x+3) = 9x + 12 - x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What exactly are they asking him to do here?  I don't understand what they are looking for.  Should he solve for a, or for x in terms of a?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "thanks,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Andrea </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #167358 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><B>scott8148(6628)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=scott8148><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=167358\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> an identity means that the two sides of the equation are not ony equal, but also identical\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x = 12 is an equation ___ there is a unique value of x (solution)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x = 3x is an identity ___ all values of x will work (no solution)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "solving for \"a\" will generate the identity\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "collecting terms ___ a(2x+3) = 8x + 12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "factoring ___ a(2x+3) = 4(2x + 3)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "dividing by 2x+3 ___ a = 4 </SPAN>\n" );
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